Friday, 31 October 2014

EARLY INTO THE NEW SHOP today to get to work on the coffee menu. it took a couple of hours just to draw in up and then i did the final lettering in a large texta. it was abysmal so now i'm having another go in the morning, using brush and acrylic on heavy paper. fingers crossed.It was great to have a job to do though, i had the whole place to myself for the morning. spent time with cal this afternoon, he's becoming so vocal, funny little fellow.

the perfect kneeling

cushion, a pack of

disposable nappies

time for a coffee

with rene and tila

at westwood

bakery - great

bread and cakes

rene and tila getting some business done

These gorgeous little pre schoolers are transported like this, always in their uniforms, bright colours like orange and hot pink, always with hats, they're so cute

back to the shop to do the sign, the beginning of something terrible. i'm having another go tomorrow

THIS EVENING rene and i walked around the streets and a i did rubbings of the manholes, with his help.I'm so pleased i got to do this, they look lovely and it was fun. didn't get run over either :0)

Wednesday, 29 October 2014

A DAY of thinking i was doing one thing and ending up doing another. I was all psyched up to paint rene's menu for the shop today, but the key was with the plumber, then rene took sayaka out for lunch, then later for the rest of the day, it's 7.30 now, cal's asleep and i've done nothing all day except wander round a few shops and sit with cal. feeling frustrated, tomorrow's my last full day here, i hope i can do the sign, not sure how it will go. and i want to do a few rubbings of manholes (ooh, that

sounds a bit rude). well, i can only do it when the street is clear, either very early or late and i'd rather have rene with me. who knows if it will happen

Tuesday, 28 October 2014

WHENEVER I'M AWAY my thoughts turn to my ultra soft luxury mattress at home when the trip is coming to an end. I'm thinking about it now :0) 3 sleepnights and one on the plane and i'll be home - i think i'll sleep for a week - to paraphrase the great bette davis - granny-ing ain't for cissies :0)

meeting another friend of GIRA GIRA - he's a young photographer who seemed quite shy until the camera came out :0) i didn't even notice him posing like this until i saw the shot. it's virtually impossible to photograph anyone here without them doing the two finger thing - even the group of women in their lovely traditional kimonos the other day. i had to wait till they walked away to get a good shot

the complete bug - cal in his ladybird suit sitting on his red cherry seat. the little shoes are from an op shop in melbourne, a gift from baaba

Monday, 27 October 2014

CAL WAS UP so late last night, out on an early halloween ride with ren and sayaka and a group of friends, that he's slept all day. it's 4.30 and he's still sleeping so i'm having a movie day. It was thunder and lightning and rain last night so today is dark and humid.
Apparently the ride was fun despite the weather and the kids had a ball.

OUT INTO THE NIGHT

this morning i dropped into the new shop to discuss doing the coffee sign for the wall. just look at tila's beautifully neat collection of tools and offcuts on the floor

MY DAY OFF - the first day without cal since i got here - it was great to just sleep in, get and up wander off to a flea market down on the canal (having finally got my bearings) and meet rene for lunch in the sun. It was interrupted just as his food arrived on the table by a frantic phone call from sayaka, apparently one of the neighbours had seen the shop door ajar, it had obviously not been locked the night before or someone had broken in. rene took off on the skateboard to check and all was well, what a relief. it was lovely to spend time with rene - it's been way too long.I spent the afternoon just strolling along the huge shopping arcade, watching everyone, taking in the mad signage, a beer at the end of the day. nice.

this was at a flea market that ran along the canal, i got a few bargains there before meeting rene for lunch

Saturday, 25 October 2014

LOTS OF WALKING today - with cal. right up to Shinsaibashi shopping arcade, an absolute sea of people walking in both directions, shops for blocks and blocks and blocks. it was just a reconnoitre for tomorrow - i'm having a day off, just walking by myself with the camera and meeting rene for lunch on the canal, in the sun hopefully

yesterday in Dotonbori - the street where sunny and i stayedon our trip a couple of years ago. it's full of the craziest, hugestsignage, and a sea of people

sayaka's dad takeshi, helping out in the new shop yesterday with tila

swapping cards in gira gira yesterday with an artist who does a lot of interesting graphic design

About Me

day to day life on the mighty murray surrounded by huge redgums, amazing waterbirds and all that serenity. i'm into my sixth year now - settled in completely and loving it. about to totally renovate the large garage into a weather controlled fully lined studio EEHAH!!
so much beauty here to enjoy every day.